Disclaimer—I don't own Jimmy Neutron or any of the Nickelodeon characters just my own OC

A/N: I'm not sure if this is finished, I gave it somewhat of a finished "feel" but I may come back and add to it. Obviously create more of a plot behind whatever came next. But as it is, it's finished for now. Also in the other two chapters there was defined point of view changes, here I kind of blended everything together. Enjoy?

Chapter Three:

"From the moment we met—I knew you were a force to be reckoned with. And as kids, I'll admit I hated you for that. But for those reasons now, it couldn't be farther from the truth. Cindy… I think I'm in love with you."

She'd been staring so hard at their joined hands that she almost completely missed what he said. But as it slowly sank in, she realized two things. The first she was of course—completely in love with him. And the second, well he was waiting for some kind of response.

She looked up into his honest face, and saw her own fear mirrored back at her. She unclasped their hands, and ran one of hers down his cheek. He gasped lightly, while trying to maintain eye contact but he closed his eyes for a moment. With his eyes closed she felt a wave of courage flow through her as she leaned in and gently pressed her lips to his.

He immediately responded. He kissed her back. Running a hand up to her face he cupped her jaw and reciprocated her long over due affections. At first he was gentle and a bit hesitant. But as he grew with confidence, he cautiously snaked his tongue out through her parted lips. She couldn't fight back the moan that escaped her, and before she knew it, he had pulled her into his arms and on his lap, his lips never leaving her. He made a path from her jawline to her ear, totally and completely bombarding her senses.

When he dropped lower and began nuzzling the pulse point on her neck, she carefully drew away. He regarded her silently now, with astonishment and apprehension.

"Well, that was—more than I was expecting." She began. Now sitting back on her own couch cushion.

"Yeah," He answered, now staring at her with more curiosity than she felt like she could bear.

"You knew right?"

"Knew?" She parroted back, inwardly cringing at how out of breath she still sounded.

"That I love you."

"Yes." She answered. Surprise flowing through her. She had known—this whole time she had known… simply because she had loved him too.

"And I know." He said, "I know that you love me, even if you can't say it."

She nodded, unable to confirm or deny what they both fundamentally understood.

"It would be nice, just once though."

It was the bit of hope that seeped through, the glimpse of feared rejection that danced behind his eyes. It was the way he'd tenderly and almost habitually had gone back to lightly holding her hand between them. And it was the way she knew she never felt safer with another soul. It was these reasons and a million more than she finally managed "I do, I do love you."

With that his lips came crashing down to hers. What had started as a gentle and hesitant first kiss led to a breathless and demanding second one. He was everywhere… all at once and she felt as if he were smothering her from the inside out. She found this time; she was the one climbing into his lap.

He groaned softly, and she found her arms around his neck, deepening their kiss. When their need for air over powered their need for one another, they pulled apart.

He rested his forehead against hers. While looking everywhere but in her eyes he apologized.

"I had to hear it. At least once. Especially if you do plan to cease all contact with me. A hypothesis can never be proven or disproved without all the factual data."

"But you knew." She stated while gently rubbing the side of his arm, hoping he'd look at her again.

"I hoped." He admitted. "But I respect your desire for space. If that is what you truly want."

"It isn't."

"No?" He questioned, finally meeting her eye. Confusion, danced with hesitation, and it wasn't an expression she was used to seeing on him.

"No. It never was. I'm just not sure how—to I guess be your friend. With us, it's always a battle."

"But you were the one who said it didn't have to be." He reminded her.

He still hadn't let go of her. Half in his lap, and half on the sofa, he turned slightly. Propping himself more comfortably, he sank further into the upholstery. He gave her a small and experimental tug and she came willingly back with him. He curled and arm around her shoulder, and down to her waist, tucking her snugly into his side.

She sighed, and he noticed. "I won't deny that there has always been tension relating to physical attraction—"

"Get on with it." She interrupted, and he smiled into her hair.

"You're beautiful."

She blushed deeply and he continued.

"But beauty hasn't anything to do with it. It's always been your intellect. Your wit, your tongue…your mind. Cindy, your mind—"

"I like that."

"What?" He asked quizzically, she had side tracked him.

"When you call me…that. I like it."

It was his turn to blush.

"I always want too. Societal pressures influence my behavior."

"Which is what it all boils down to isn't it? Our peer reflection, our familiar influence, our best friends' opinions!"

"What if I don't care?" He bit out rhetorically.

"It's the start of our senior year in less than four days. It's our time. We can change how everyone else views us, or we can just tell them to take hike. We can do this together, or we can pretend this whole night never happened and go back to awkwardly dancing around the other as if were mere strangers."

"Is that how you see me?" She asked, not entirely sure what she was hoping to hear.

"I see you. Just you. A rival. A friend. An ally. A competitor. A warrior. A threat." He drew in a deep breath and made sure he was looking her directly in the eye. "An equal."

He continued on, as he took in her speechless expression.

"It's up to us. It's not up to them. So what do we say?"

"We say yes." She answered with finality. Knowing not what lay ahead for their future, but that he'd beside her, he wasn't people—and he wouldn't leave.